SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Connecting over WiFi?

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-30T04:25:33Z

What timing! Check this out: http://dangerousprototypes.com/2013/01/ … d-wifi-ic/

While it's still not dirt cheap, that chip is reasonably priced, and holds all kinds of promise for hacking.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-29T23:14:24Z

It's over Bluetooth I think.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-29T21:38:15Z

Pretty neat. My wifi is so untrustworthy that I wouldn't want my printing to be tied to it though. Would hate to loose a long print due to a wifi hiccup.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-29T12:11:44Z

CozmicRay pointed me here:

http://reprap.org/wiki/Sanguinololu_Wireless_Adapter

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T15:16:20Z

I have seen postings from others saying that they are running the PronterFace and/or Repetier Host on Win 8, but I have not tried it myself, yet. RH does setup correctly and run, but I've not actually driven a printer with it.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T15:02:12Z

I was thinking about trying to get a Surface Pro to use as my 3d modeling and maybe printing to the SD2. Any issues with win8 + sd2?

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T14:47:42Z

At this point, I am awash with old desktop computers, so I probably will just dedicate one to running Repetier and servicing the printers. I would then remote into that computer using WiFi. I've just installed Win 8 on a number of computers, and am reasonably happy with it so far (long story, but for $40 per computer, I was able to upgrade all of the computers to 64 bit operating systems). So, memory will no longer be an issue, once I'm finished with this exercise. Once you disable all but one of the Metro tiles in Win 8, and add a Start Button replacement, it basically is just Win 7. And it "boots" and shuts down VERY quickly, so I can just put them to sleep when I'm not printing.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T14:37:17Z

If you want to go PC free I would look into doing a SDcard/LCD mod. I plan to do the VikiLCD myself.

After that, I am wondering if I could use an eye-fi to load gcode to the printer.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T05:31:05Z

I use dropbox on my main laptop, where I slice everything. Dropbox syncs automatically to my old laptop with a cracked screen, which i use for printing the files. By the time I go over to my old laptop, or log into it remotely, I typically have my gcode synced or almost synced. Then I load and go on. It's been a simple solution for me, and doesn't involve dealing with ip addresses and ports.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T03:04:15Z

Picked up a Dell FX160 for $50 shipped. Comes with wireless. Perfect client for the job!

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T01:40:32Z

Hacking together a wi-fi solution has its challenges. For starters, it's a very complex protocol and in onesies, wi-fi modules are expensive. Then, you need a host computer of some sort to interface with the module. The host will have to run a full TCP/IP stack (or at least a full IP stack) in addition to managing the Wi-Fi link, which drives up cost and complexity.

If you really want wireless printing, perhaps an XBee would be a solution. These are 'serial cable replacement' wireless devices that use the 802.15.4 protocol. A pair is still going to be somewhat pricey, but you could probably hack the firmware on the Solidoodle to listen to the serial port on the ATMega644 rather than having to find or invent a USB host, which would save complexity and money.

I'm afraid I haven't seen a schematic of the Solidoodle's controller board to be able to give further ideas. I can certainly see the appeal of a wireless link between a host computer and a Solidoodle. There are a number of lightweight wireless protocols, both standardized and proprietary, that would probably be applicable. My personal opinion is that Wi-Fi is just too heavyweight of a protocol for a simple 'cable replacement' wireless link. Now, if you wanted to, say, use a Raspberry Pi or something attached to the Solidoodle as an embedded host, and communicate with that wirelessly, then I think Wi-Fi starts to make more sense.

It's certainly an interesting topic. I've currently got a few projects in the queue, but it's something I may want to tackle down the road.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-28T00:13:26Z

Won't work. Maybe a USB extender.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-27T23:59:21Z

I was thinking about buying a wireless print server and trying to hook the Solidoodles up to the USB ports on the print server. Does anyone know whether this approach would work or not? The Solidoodles are not "printers", so I'm not sure whether this approach would work

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-27T18:00:25Z

jon_bondy wrote:

I'm actually quite happy controlling my Solidoodles from a computer using Repetier Host. I'm not clear what the advantages are of using an SD card. If I used an SD card, I would have to use sneaker-net to fetch the card, insert it locally, upload to it, trek back, etc.

Sneaker-Net!

I'll have to use this one. Some folks think the card is superior, because their printer wont be affected by the computer going to sleep.

Re: Connecting over WiFi?

2013-01-27T14:20:13Z

I'm actually quite happy controlling my Solidoodles from a computer using Repetier Host. I'm not clear what the advantages are of using an SD card. If I used an SD card, I would have to use sneaker-net to fetch the card, insert it locally, upload to it, trek back, etc.